Minus Offers Remix App

Techno pioneer Richie Hawtin has never been afraid to embrace technology, which is why it comes as no surprise that his Minus label has just launched an innovative new mobile application that allows users to remix and rework a select portion of the storied imprint’s catalog. Similar in scope to the app released by International Feel last year, Remiix Minus breaks down 10 selections from the label’s discography—including tracks from Marc Houle, Magda, and Gaiser—into their constituent parts and enables users to “combine, transform, and rearrange” the productions. The app can be purchased here, and the complete list of Minus selections it offers, along with a teaser video, have been posted below.

Tracklist:
Matador – Kingswing
Click Box – Berlin Shades
Hobo – Symptom
Marc Houle – Techno Vocals
Heartthrob – Baby Kate
Marc Houle – Borrowed Gear
Magda – Your Love Attack
Gaiser – Elastrik
Barem – Nothing
Ambivalent – R U OK?

Clams Casino Offers ‘Instrumentals’ for Free

On Christmas Day, New Jersey hip-hop beatmaker Clams Casino offered up a special gift via his Facebook page: what he described as a “previously unavailable high quality 320kbps digitally remastered version of Instrumentals,” an effort which just so happened to come in at #15 on XLR8R‘s list of the Best Releases of 2011. Originally released as a free mixtape online, Instrumentals was later reissued and pressed on vinyl by the Type label. Thanks to Clams Casino’s holiday generosity, the higher-quality versions of the songs from that release are now available for everyone. Download the package here and start bumping the remastered Instrumentals on the device of your choosing.

Dark Sky “Standoff”

As a sort of late Christmas present to its fans, UK production trio Dark Sky posted this tune on the web as a free download. “Standoff” is another strong example of the kind of moody and enticing music the outfit crafts, which is a large part of why we named Dark Sky one of 2011’s best new artists, but the track also sports a quasi-dubstep slant that’s a fresh vibe for the group. We’re glad to see that the boys are keeping busy. (via Box Musique)

Standoff

Para One Mother EP

The three-track Mother EP by Marble co-owner Para One arrives ahead of the artist’s first album for his new imprint and his first proper LP since 2006’s Epiphanie. Though he has certainly kept busy releasing a number of solo and collaborative EPs and singles in between, the Parisian producer’s music hasn’t really changed much during that time. He still favors hyper-compressed soundscapes, straightforward rhythms, and loading each production with uniquely handcrafted sounds, not to mention that he arranges it all like a pro. It’s just too bad that his formula has grown a bit stale over the years.

The title track—the only of these three productions that will also appear on Para One’s forthcoming LP—is a beastly cut of old-school electro beats and menacing sound effects. Surprisingly or not, it isn’t all that different from the even darker remix by fellow Frenchman Mr. Oizo, another artist who doesn’t seem terribly interested in diverging from his tried-and-true aesthetic. Both songs are more or less atonal, as the focus is primarily on the percussive qualities of each sound, and both could’ve fit perfectly in Ed Banger’s discography during the mid aughts.

Both versions of “Mother” are impeccably produced, but apart from being the latest work from a couple of veteran tunesmiths, they offer little else in terms of freshness or excitement. Para One’s collaboration with Marble co-owner Surkin, “Compute,” also boasts the tropes of French electro-house, but with a bit of a slant towards the increasingly trendy style of acid. Still, it’s not much of a change from the previous two cuts, and is ultimately as underwhelming as the rest of the Mother EP. Fingers crossed that Para One delivers some previously unexplored material when his next album drops.

Wintercoats “Forest of Lovers (Southern Shores Remix)”

While the concept of melding pop music with electronic sounds is nothing new, it’s hard to think of many imprints operating these days that do it quite as well as Cascine. In celebration of the young label’s busy 2011, not to mention what’s looking to be a promising 2012, Cascine has offered up this new remix of Wintercoats‘ “Forest of Lovers” by Canadian outfit Southern Shores. The original appeared on Wintercoats’ (pictured above) Sketches EP, but here, the guys from Southern Shores have bathed the song in warm, swirling synth melodies and employed some simple Balearic beats. Look for new music from both Wintercoats and Southern Shores to drop on Cascine later in the year, along with new efforts from Jensen Sportag, Chad Valley, The Whendays, and more.

Forest of Lovers (Southern Shores Remix)

Nic Fanciulli & Rolando “The Test”

Anytime a new record appears from Detroit veteran and Underground Resistance alum Rolando, people are going to take notice. In recent years, his production output has slowed considerably, even as the appreciation for his body of work continues to swell. “The Test” is a collaboration with another veteran artist, Saved label boss Nic Fanciulli, who brings a celebrated track record of his own to the proceedings.

Released as a one-sided 12″, “The Test” is a bustling piece of hard-edged techno. Largely eschewing melody, the song’s thudding pulse is bathed in a soupy low-end rumble that never dissipates, even as the slow-burning track climaxes nearly five minutes into its runtime. Even with that climax, “The Test” remains fairly linear, establishing a frantic pace from the outset and never really letting up on the accelerator. It’s not really a party tune, but it’s unlikely that Rolando and Fanciulli had notions of lighthearted fun in mind when they constructed it. “The Test” is more like a tool, one that grabs hold of writhing dancefloors and slowly brings them from a simmer to a boil. It may not be the most memorable thing these guys have created, but there’s little doubt that it works.

See You in 2012… Check Out Our Best of 2011

This time of year, the music world pretty much slows to a crawl, so we here at XLR8R are going to jump on the opportunity to take a little breather. We know it’s hard to go without the daily dose of free MP3s, news, videos, podcasts, reviews, and all the other bits of information that get posted around here, but don’t worry—things will be up and running again on Monday, January 2. In the meantime, feel free to look around the site, particularly at the litany of Best of 2011 lists we posted over the past two weeks. All of the lists can be found here, or you can check them out one at a time by clicking on the links below.

XLR8R‘s Best of 2011: Top Downloads
XLR8R‘s Best of 2011: Podcasts
XLR8R‘s Best of 2011: Videos
XLR8R‘s Best of 2011: Tracks, Part One
XLR8R‘s Best of 2011: Tracks, Part Two
XLR8R‘s Best of 2011: Labels
XLR8R‘s Best of 2011: New Artists
XLR8R‘s Best of 2011: Releases, Part One
XLR8R‘s Best of 2011: Releases, Part Two

Thanks for all the support and dedication in 2011. We look forward to getting right back into things in 2012. Happy holidays.

Check Out a Mix by Stingray313 for Unknown to the Unknown

The guy responsible for our #34 release of 2011, Stingray313 (a.k.a. DJ Stingray), has just unleashed a brand-new mix for UK label Unknown to the Unknown. The 30-minute DJ set features tunes from the likes of Drexciya, Africa Hitech, Autechre, and Plastikman, and is available to stream, below, or download, here. (via Hyponik)

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Para One to Drop New EP via Marble

Arriving on January 2, Mother is the brand-new EP from French producer Para One, which he will release via his collaborative imprint with Surkin and Bobmo, Marble. The record—his first solo release for the label—will feature the title track on the a-side, with a remix by Mr. Oizo and a collaboration with Surkin, called “Compute,” on the flip. “Mother” will also appear on Para One’s forthcoming LP, but the b-sides are both exclusive to this release.

Keysound Recordings Announces New Release by Dusk and Kowton

UK imprint Keysound, pegged as one of XLR8R‘s top labels of 2011, will kick off 2012 by releasing a three-song collaborative effort from London-based producer Dusk and Bristol resident Kowton (pictured above). The EP, titled Kowton v Dusk, will contain the song “Fraction” by Dusk, “Looking at You” by Kowton, and a remix of “Fraction” by Kowton. A preview of the short-player, which will see a physical release on January 9, followed by a digital release on January 16, can be streamed below.

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